Schamber Store
In the 1870’s Christian Buechler operated a dry goods store in Yankton (capitol of Dakota Territory). Around 1879 when the railroad came to Freeman he dismantled his store from Yankton and hauled the sections to Freeman on a hay rack. He rebuilt his store on the corner of Third and Main Street (Lot 5 & 6). This became the first business in Freeman. In 1882 George Schamber, John Schamber, and John Dubs bought the store for $1500 and started Schamber Bros General Mercantile Business. John Dubs left the business soon after and went back to the farm.
The first floor was the general store and the second was living quarters for George Schamber’s family until 1891. In 1900 the building was moved down the street and a two story brick building was constructed (the basement was dug by hand). The Schamber Store sold groceries on the right side of the store and dry goods store on the left. Goods consisted of coffee beans, sugar, salted herring, syrup, soda crackers, apples, butter, and poultry. In 1901 an awning was built and later an elevator was added. In 1902 John C. Schamber installed a new light plant. In 1907 the Freeman Volunteer Fire Co. saved Schamber Bros. building from a devastating fire. Offices in the building belonged to the Freeman Courier, the Telephone Exchange, Dr. Wipf, Dr. M. Hofer, and Dr. Irvin Kaufman. From 1907 to 1955 Dr. Jacob H. Wipf ran his dentist office above the Shamber store.
The business stayed open late on Saturday nights until the 1960’s. The business ran out of dry goods in 1964 and closed in 1971. In 1975 Gideon Rembold opened a Ben Franklin store in the building which later became Prairie Town Plaza here in 1989.
Dr. Jacob H. Wipf came to America in 1879 and became the first dentist in Freeman. Jacob Wipf and Dr. A.A. Wipf started the first drugstore in town (Kairos site) in 1895. Dr. Jacob Wipf graduated from Northwestern School of Dentistry in Chicago in 1907. His office was above the Schamber Store, where he practiced from 1907 to 1955.
Merchant State Bank > Gross Cream Store
In 1899 Gotthelf, John Schamber, and other shareholders established Merchants State Bank on the north side of the Schamber Store (Lot 5). In 1902 John Gross bought the bank and operated until 1913 when a new building was constructed on the corner of Third and Main Street (Lot 1).
In 1915 Jake T. Gross bought cream in the Hoffer and Tschetter store. In 1916 he operated a Cream Station in the M.K. Hofer Elevator on the railroad grounds until 1919 when he bought the old bank building (Lot 4) and started Jake T. Gross (Gross Creamery). He churned cream into butter with a 50 pound churn and Gross butter became very popular. He soon upgraded to a 100 gallon pasteurizer and a 500 pound churn. He sold the business to Farmers Coop Creamery around 1931.
Wipf Drug > Pollman Drug > Kairos
In 1883 N.D. Farley opened the first drug store in Freeman (Lot 4). In 1894 Dr. Andreas A. Wipf graduated from Rush Medical College in Chicago with a degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1895 Dr. A.A. Wipf and J.W. Wipf started their drugstore on Main Street (J.W. Wipf & Co).
The post office operated over the drug store and Dr. Wipf served as the postmaster. Wipf Drug Store was in business until 1904 when they sold they store to Christ Guenthner. Guenthner started Guenthner & Son Drug Store which ran until 1907.
In 1908 Andrew Hofer and J.J. Pollman bought the building and opened Pollman Drug Store. The City Lunch Room operated in the building in 1918. In 1921 John A. Wipf opened a plumbing and heating business in the building, operating until 1927 when he moved across the street. In 1928 J. Rosen moved in his tailor shop. In 1948 Mike Walter moved in his furniture store Walter Furniture from Third Street operating until the 1980’s In 1987 Julie Huber and Betty Haar opened The Kairos.
Freeman Telephone Exchange
In 1902 Freeman Telephone Exchange was established by Joe W. Wipf and Christopher Guenthner above the Wipf Drug store. In 1903 the first rural line was run south of town and in 1904 rural farmers got telephone lines. J.J. Mendel bought the telephone exchange in 1910 and moved the business above the Schamber store. In 1917 Mendel sold the exchange to a group of farmers and they moved the business above Merchants State Bank. Below is the 1910 directory. In 1917 Mendel sold the exchange to a group of east Freeman farmers and they moved the business above Merchants State Bank.
In 1943 Carl Beier bought the telephone exchange and operated until 1961. Carl moved the telephone exchange to Third Street and sold it to V.L. Bradley. Bradley changed the system to the dial system. In 1967 he sold the exchange to Continental Telephone Company. Bison State Telephone operated the business in the 1970’s. Golden West Communication later took over services, including internet and telephone systems.
Hofer Drug
John K. Hofer operated Hofer Drug Store from 1912 to 1915 above the Wipf Drug Store. In 1916 John built a new 2 story building for his business Red Cross Pharmacy (Lot 3). In 1918 the Orpheum Theatre operated above the drug store. In the 1940’s John moved his business south a block. John K. Hofer was a druggist for 50 years.
In 1963 Lemoyne and Joann Ries started the Village Toggery clothing store in the building. In 1973 the business expanded and moved south a block. In 1974 Julie’s Cafe operated in the building followed by Freeman Cafe.
Gross Cafe
In 1903 Frank Zickrick opened Palace Saloon on the corner of Railway and Main Street (Lot 2). In 1906 John Waldner took over and renamed it Waldner Cafe. In 1911 John Pankratz opened a restaurant in the building. In 1915 John Gross bought the business and started Gross Café. There was also a hotel upstairs.
The building later became Farm Loan Associates. Attorney Dick Splide and Attorney Blue moved into the building in the 1970’s. Glenn Roth bought the building in 1980 and started Roth Law Office. Freeman Courier operated in the small building to the north from 1984-1995.
